Google AdSense Forum

We had some old sites (aging back to 5 years) in which we have adsense running. The revenues have declined since last 2 years (when compared to surge in visits); albeit we have seen gradual hike in traffic that organic SEO brings.

And that's why we have never used adsense in any of our new sites since end of 2010.

So though google earnings are increasing does their partner publisher enjoy same level of proportionate hike in revenues.

What's your thought and experience on it; I am talking about smaller sites not bigger new sites.

No, overall I'm WAY up over last year, more than double. But not on every site. Some of my new sites hit it out of the park immediately, and some of my old ones have seen a decline (mostly because I've neglected them while developing the new ones) But on the whole - I'm good.

My CTR (even on the most successful sites) is way way down like everyone else's; what made the difference this year was increased traffic and explosive EPCs (and more sites). Interesting that Google says CPCs are down, because I'm experiencing just the opposite.

All the more reason to work on my other channels, because mine may catch up to the rest at any point.

There are probably many reasons, but the most important reason in my opinion is that the way people access the Internet has dramatically changed from desktop/laptop variants to mobile devices. Many businesses including Facebook, not just Google, have been slow to adequately monetize mobile traffic.

Yah; my traffic overall is just a hair under 50% mobile (except for my personal blog)

So you are suggesting new channels in terms of ad network or new niche sites ?

I'm not suggesting anything, I'm just saying that I have a lot of irons in the fire, since I firmly believe in lots of eggs and lots of baskets. I have a lot of sites in a handful of niches. I've got a couple more niches I'm looking at. We're (I have one partner) improving the existing sites almost daily. Pricing out having a mobile app created (both a free-with-ad version and a full featured ninety nine cent one) Have a system for selling direct advertising half built. Always testing other ad networks when I come across them, but so far none comes close to AdSense (but I'm sure with the amount and demographic of the traffic I get, I can do better with direct anyway. Plus I can do mobile direct.) Email marketing. Going to send out some flyers. Facebook and Twitter. I got news reporters clamoring for interviews.

AND I still have my day job.

In short, while I love AdSense and it's working well for me right now, I'm not betting my retirement on it.

My analysis shows that, in the last quarter, the average costs per click (CPCs) have declined significantly in the last quarter (-16.5% for Google Search, -18.2% for Google Display Network), while click-through rates (CTR) were mixed (-12.4% for Google Search, +13.8% for Google Display Network).

Offsetting those declines are an impressive growth of ad impressions and clicks (clicks were up +21.6% for Google Search, +29.1% for Google Display Network), which more than made up for lost revenues.

My take is that the trends we’re seeing in the Google economy create a win-win for both AdWords advertisers and Google.

A larger available inventory of impressions, combined with lower CPC, means that PPC advertisers are now literally able to get more customers for less money.

It also opens up Search Engine Marketing to more advertisers, including perhaps advertisers for whom the economics of search might not have previously worked out at higher average costs per click. (Just as SEO is harder for small businesses with lower budgets, so is PPC.)

From the infographic: Average CPC Google Search $0.53 down 16.5% from Q2 Google Display Network $0.35 down 18.2% from Q2 Average CTR Google Search 3.47% down 12.4% Google Display Network 0.18% up 13.8%